Sixth Form Subject Guide 2019-2021 REDRAFTED Sixth Form Choices Guide | Page 64

Group 6 – The Arts IB Music (Higher and Standard Level) HEAD OF DEPARTMENT: Mr E Coleman ([email protected]) Entry Requirements Grade B in GCSE Music or equivalent and ideally Grade 5 Theory. Performing skills equivalent to Grade 5 (SL) or 6 (HL) Where next? University options include “traditional” Music at Universities, some of which have more of a performing focus than others, conservatoires for performers, Music Theatre courses and Music Technology and popular music routes at, for example, the Brighton Institute of Modern Music. Many universities, including Oxbridge and Durham, offer choral and organ scholarships. Careers include performing, composing and arranging (following in the footsteps of alumni Benjamin Britten and Lennox Berkeley), teaching, arts administration, music publishing, music therapy and recording in the music industry. WHAT WILL I STUDY? Listening paper: You will study Haydn’s Symphony No. 92 and Rachmaninov’s Variations on a theme of Paganini as well as a wide range of pieces from across the world and from different time periods, including world fusion music, developing listening and analysing skills. Musical Links Investigation: You will research and write a 2000-word media script comparing significant musical links between two pieces from distinct musical cultures. Internal Assessment: At Standard Level you will choose between Solo performing (15 minutes), Group performing (20-30 minutes) or Creating (two pieces). At Higher Level you do both Solo performing (20 minutes) and Creating (three pieces). Solo or Group performing can take place at any public performance during the two year course. Creating pieces can be a choice of composition, music technology composition, arrangement, improvisation or stylistic techniques. HOW IS THE COURSE ASSESSED? The Listening exam takes place at the end of the course and consists of questions on the set work(s) and essays based on a CD of unprepared recordings, and is worth 30%. The Musical Links Investigation is externally assessed coursework and is worth 20%. At Standard Level the Internal Assessment option you choose will be worth 50% and at Higher Level both IAs are worth 25%. 63